According to Weather.com, this weekend should be mostly sunny, and kind of hot. Highs on Friday are expected around 87 and on Saturday to get up to 93. It doesn't seem like much chance of rain (odd).
If you are going out to the festival, make sure you wear sunblock. Most of downtown Urbana will be closed off, so you'll probably be on the streets. Streets reflect sunlight really well. So be sure to wear sun block. Also, a big comfy hat that blocks the sun will keep it off your nose. With the high temperatures, ensure you drink enough water. I recommend one water for every beer you drink. If you stop sweating, seek water immediately. If you get dizzy, seek medical help immediately.
Even though it's late June, this may be one of your first times outside for an extended period. Be careful. But have fun. Heat and sunlight are very dangerous. Drink water. If your urine isn't clear, you need fluids.
Ok, enough with the safety briefing.
At the festival this year, there are to be 24 different beers on tap. There is no list provided yet of what they are.
According to the Buzz article "More brews, same blues" by Elizabeth Carroll, there will be a beer garden, as opposed to just the beer trailers.
Additionally, someone will be available inside Lincoln Square to talk about beer, and recommend pairings. I don't know who that will be.Even for the traditional beer-drinkers, there is much to be excited about. There will be around 24 different types on tap inside Lincoln Square, as well as a wide variety of bottled beer from around the country available in the beer garden.
Jeff Grant, the event manager at Fluid Events, feels that the beer garden is a better setup than the previous year’s beer trailers. There will be more room for different types. “Visitors will be able to fill their mugs and walk outside to watch the show and enjoy the food”, said Grant.
Another Buzz article, "Learn from the masters with cooking demonstrations at Blues, Brews, and BBQ," by Brittany Staszak, mentions that there will be cooking demonstrations inside Lincoln Square Mall Food Court.
In an idea cooked up by Fluid Events,the Blues, Brews, and BBQ festival invited several local chefs to do cooking demonstrations from Friday, 9a.m.-5p.m., and Saturday, noon-5p.m., creating delicious and nutritious attraction for hungry festival-goers.The Buzz has another article, "Urbana Blues, Brews and BBQ Festival", by Jeanine Russell, that discusses the history of the event.
Other news outlets haven't spent much time on the festival yet. It seems the weather has taken over most of the news.
As to the music, there's a lot of "son of" playing.
Music Line-Up
Friday June 25th
Miller Main Stage:
5:30 - 6:30 Candy Foster
7:00 - 8:30 Big Bill Morganfield (son of Muddy Waters)
9:00 - 10:30 Bernard Allison (son of Luther Allison)
Late Night Show @ 88 Broadway/Lincoln Square:
10:30 - 11:30 The Sugar Prophets
12:00 - 1:30 Devon Allman's Honey Tribe (son of Greg Allman)
** Please enter Lincoln Square south of the Family Stage on Broadway Ave.**
Saturday June 26th
Miller Main Stage:
12:00 - 1:00 The Blues Decons
1:30 - 2:45 Bruiser and the Virtues
3:15 - 4:30 Eddie Taylor Jr. (son of Eddie Taylor)
5:00 - 6:30 Eddie Van Shaw Jr. (son of Eddie Shaw)
7:00 - 8:30 Wayne Baker Brooks (son of Lonnie Brooks)
9:00 - 10:30 John Lee Hooker Jr. (son of John Lee Hooker)
Late Night Show @88 Broadway/Lincoln Square:
10:30 - 11:30 Kilborn Alley Blues Band
12:00 - 1:30 Juke Joint Duo Featuring Cedric Burnside (grandson of R.L. burnside) and Lightning Malcom
** Please enter Lincoln Square south of the Family Stage on Broadway Ave.**
They should put together a band of the Super Blues Juniors.
For more information on the festival, there will probably be lots of stories on it on the early morning features shows.
Turnout for the weekend should be pretty good, as the Taste of CU got mostly rained out.
So, go have a beer, or 24, and drink water while applying sunscreen.
*if anyone has the tap list, let me know; or post it in the comments*
